FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                  

Linux vs. Windows TCO Comparison: The Final Numbers Are In..

Australia -- 13th December, 2004                                                

The Cybersource Linux vs. Windows TCO Comparison is back and better than
ever. In April 2002, Cybersource undertook the first study contrasting
the overall Total Cost of Ownership differences between Linux and open
source platforms on the one hand, and Windows and Microsoft platforms
on the other. We have now updated this report to accommodate the changes
in both platforms. We have also extended the model to increase its
relevance and accuracy. The final numbers are now in and available from:


http://www.cybersource.com.au/about/linux_vs_windows_tco_comparison.pdf

This study covers the average computer-usage requirements for an
organisation with 250 users, over a 3 year period. The costing models
include expenses such as workstations, servers, networking, IT staff,
consultancy fees, Internet Service charges, file, mail and print
servers, e-commerce servers, SQL and network infrastructure servers,
Internet and Intranet servers, line-of-business software, desktop
productivity applications, external training, printers as well as
miscellaneous systems costs. We also contrast free-download Linux and
paid-for Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

"We know that Cybersource is identified as a Linux solution provider, so
we made great effort to prepare a balanced and open analysis," commented
Cybersource CEO, Con Zymaris. "The prices used for the study, along with
research methodology, vendor specifications, cost calculator tabulations
and final results are all included, so that these results can be
verified by others. Which is more than we can say for any of the TCO
reports that Microsoft touts in its current carpet-bombing anti-Linux
advertising campaign."
 
Additionally, we made the following concessions to tip the scales in
Microsoft's favour.

1) We didn't modify the model to reflect research by the Robert 
   Frances Group which shows that Linux needed 82% fewer 
   staff-resources. 

2) We have not included the costs of malware; viruses, spyware, worms, 
   keyloggers, adware etc. Every research point we have found suggests 
   that this cost is essentially and predominantly a Windows platform
   cost, resulting in billions lost by business every year.

3) We have also not included the substantial costs which arise when 
   systems need to be pre-emptively rebooted or worse, crash, resulting 
   in unscheduled downtime. All our research indicates that Linux rarely
   if ever suffers such problems and open source platforms on the whole
   are extremely robust. 

4) Finally, because Microsoft has claimed that introducing Linux into an 
   environment will lead to increased reliance on external consultants, 
   we have tripled the amount budgeted for such requirements on the
   Linux models. 

"And the results make for interesting reading,' continued Zymaris.
"Standard Linux was 36% lower overall TCO than Microsoft's platforms and
applications. Even the paid-for Red Hat Enterprise Linux managed systems
were 27% lower cost than Windows."

"We know that many organisations and many governments around the world
are looking at adopting Linux and are therefore carefully analysing the
numbers. We now provide what we think are the tools for making such a
decision easier. And the final numbers are indeed startling. We've given
Microsoft every head-start possible but Linux's cost advantage is simply
too great for most organisations to ignore," concluded Zymaris.

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NOTE: Cybersource gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Open
Source Victoria, an industry cluster funded by the Victorian State
Government in Australia. Visit http://www.osv.org.au/

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About Cybersource Pty. Ltd.

Cybersource, founded in early 1991, is the second longest running open 
source solutions company in the world. We have been demonstrating the 
better value, security and robustness of open source technologies to 
our clients since then. We also produce products like: 

* The Safe Internet Computer: The Safest Way to Use the Internet.

* The Small Business Linux Server: the best value small business server
  on the market and 75% less expensive than the Microsoft alternative. 

* Datasafe: Stores copies of all your documents. Easy and direct access 
  to all past revisions.

* Cybersource Trim Client; All the advantages of a Thin Client with none 
  of the disadvantages.

http://www.cybersource.com.au/

Spokesperson/Contact: Con Zymaris
Phone: +61 3 9621 2377
Email: info@cybersource.com.au
                          
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